Leave Kinabalu alone, Kadir

Former Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, went up Mount Kinabalu and moaned about the lack of safety measures for climbers.

He said,”There might be a few deaths if we are only provided with a rope to help us in the final climb,” and said that a German tourist who fell survived although he lost his nose.”

Kinabalu has been scaled by hundreds of thousands of locals and foreigners, and his is the first I have heard about a lack of safety. Most people know and are warned of what to expect.

More ropes now, will lead to increased demands in the future like concrete steps, a concrete ramp with a gradual incline, or spot lights to light up the path when making the final ascent in the early hours of the morning. These will only litter the place, provide an eye-sore and detract from Kinabalu’s natural beauty.

Suggestions like his are dangerous as the mentally challenged people in our government will be inspired to have grand ideas. Soon someone will suggest a helipad, or a cable car. Kinabalu’s flora and fauna will be destroyed. The place will be overrun by more people then it can sustain. When that happens, the attraction for the mountain will fade and it will become just another rock.

Accidents on top of the hill happen because people have ignored the advice of the guides, wander off the main path alone or do not adhere nor listen to the instructions given in the meeting at Laban Rata, before the final assault on Kinabalu.

My main fear is that when Abdul Kadir (pic) makes suggestions for development or safety in the area, the government will bulldoze its hare-brained schemes through, because its principal aim will be to make money for its cronies.

I have been up the hill and so have hundreds of thousands of other climbers from all over the world. It is not a leisurely stroll. It is a measure of one’s physical and mental states and a test of endurance, skill and determination. Even those who are fit (and young) have to prepare for the climb for many weeks if not months beforehand.

Abdul Kadir reached the peak on January 16 with a group of Rotarians for an international charity drive to eradicate polio.

Mount Kinabalu is one of the most accessible mountains in the world. No specialised mountain climbing skills are required to climb it although preparations like jogging is recommended. The trail is described as a 'trek and scramble'. Not all who climb the hill, complete the course.

Locals begin climbing the mountain from the age of 3 and the oldest person to reach the peak was 80 years old. Porters regularly carry gas-cylinders on their backs several times a day to Laban Rata.

Being fit and properly kitted out (good walking footwear and adequate warm clothing), are essential. Some people may suffer from altitude sickness because of the thin air at the higher levels.

Many claim that the climb down is worse because of pressure on the knees. For those who fear heights, walking down and being able to see how high up they are, is more daunting than when they had to ascend in the dark.

The mountain can be a dangerous place, especially during the rain or when there is mist. It is said that one person gets into severe difficulty out of the estimated 20,000 people who attempt the climb annually. The higher slopes can be very slippery when it rains and dense fog reduces visibility to a few feet.

Abdul Kadir regretted how he had not attempted the Kinabalu climb whilst he was in the ministry: “If I had known the place was so beautiful, I would have done the necessary to develop and improve the areas around Mount Kinabalu.”

Is he finally admitting that when he was in office he chose to neglect development in Sabah? People are aware that Ministers don’t normally take an interest unless there is a financial incentive to do so.

He said, “I have been to some of Europe’s finest mountains, which include the Swiss and Austrian Alps, but they are nothing compared to Mount Kinabalu. It is the most beautiful mountain with its valleys and the cool climate.”

Abdul Kadir is simply displaying the typical mentality of our ministers in government. Anything to do with overseas is ‘good’ and used as an opportunity to visit at taxpayer’s expense. Both Ng Yen Yen and Khir Toyo excelled in the study of foreign attractions.

Abdul Kadir has asked the Government to provide an urgent allocation of at least RM20mil to develop the areas around the mountain and the Kinabalu National Park because these areas had the potential to be a world class eco-tourism zone.

The fear is that he may start a dangerous precedent as development carried out by the government can be more disastrous to the area. Usually, feedback from the locals and the appropriate scientific bodies are not encouraged. Cronies in the form of government friendly companies are free to build indiscriminately. Look at how Pulau Redang is now spoilt and the coral is dying.

Perhaps Abdul Kadir is not aware that Mount Kinabalu is a sacred mountain and that it is a World Heritage Site, partly because of its magnificent botanical diversity and because in terms of geological age, the mountain is considered ‘young’.

Kinabalu is estimated to harbour up to 6,000 plant species, (including over 800 species of orchid, over 600 species of ferns, of which 50 are endemic) and has the world's richest selection of carnivorous pitcher plants. The appeal is the trek through cloud forests of moss-covered trees, past pink-flowering rhododendrons, straight trunked, parasite-infested trees, ferns and azaleas, before the soil turns redder and shrub-heather takes over.

The way things work in Malaysia, all these concerns of bio-diversity or preservation, mean nothing. The bottom line is making money - for the privileged few. - Malaysia Chronicle